Measuring tap



I I I I I 1 ,1 1 1 I z I z vewfor J J' n simrair 16-87mm 3111 d Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATES MEASURING TAP John Sinclair Weightman, Dale End, Birmingham, England, assignor to Gaskell & Chambers, Limited, Birmingham, England Application November 4, 1939, Serial No. 302,920 In Great Britain December 22, 1938 13 Claims.

This invention relates to measuring taps, and refers more particularly to the kind of tap which is adapted to be connected to an inverted bottle or other vessel and has a measuring chamber through which extends a tubular valve casing with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, said casing containing a slidable valve (hereinafter referred to as the main valve) which can be operated by pushing it upwards with a drinking or other vessel and which has parts adapted to co-operate with valve seatings associated, respectively with the inlet and discharge ports.

In taps of the above kind, as hitherto usually constructed, there is provided at the lower end of the valve casing a suitable nozzle through which a chamberful of liquid is dispensed when the valve is raised sufficiently to uncover the discharge ports. The main valve is actuated by means of a coaxially arranged push-rod secured to the lower end thereof and extending completely through the nozzle. A pair of laterally projecting arms may be provided at the free end of the push-rod aforesaid for engagement by the rim of a glass or other vessel.

With such an arrangement the liquid dispensed from the measuring chamber flows over the push-rod and at least the inner portions of the lateral arms, when such are provided, so that after each operation of the tap a certain amount of dripping from the wetted surface is bound to occur.

Dripping from the interior of the nozzle itself may be prevented by means of a special anti-drip valve as described in the specification of my copending application Serial No. 302,921 and the present invention has for its chief object substantially to prevent the liquid from coming into contact with the valve actuating means.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of measuring tap embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the tap as viewed from the right-hand side of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the delivery nozzle and the actuating means for the main valve.

In the construction of measuring tap illustrated, the valve casing 5 is of cylindrical shape and is provided near its upper end with a pair of inlet ports 6 in the form of diametricallyopposed circumferential slots.

-The lower end of the valve casing 5 is screwed into or otherwise fixedly united to a flange I,

the valve casing 5, is a dependent nozzle Ill 1 formed in two-parts H, l2 which may be screwed together, as at M. I

The main valve l5 of the tap is a close sliding 10 fit within the cylindrical casing 5 and is actuated by a rod l6 disposed coaxial therewith.

This rod I6 is enclosed within and guided by a fixed sleeve H, the lower portion (at least) of which may be integrally united with the upper part H of the nozzle In. A liquid passage I8 is provided in the latter at one or each side'of the guide l1, and said passage or passages I8 may be of half-moon or like section so that the sleeve I] is connected to the wall of the nozzle part II by means of two integral webs l9.

Slidably mounted on the exterior of the nozzle I0 is a sleeve provided at its lower end with two diametrically opposed lateral arms 2| which are adapted to engagement by the rim of a glass or other vessel for the purpose of pushing the sleeve'20 up the nozzle l0. These arms 2| may be provided with rubber sleeves 22.

A pin or bolt 23 arranged diametrically of the sleeve 20, and engaging upwardly directed lugs 24 thereon, passes through a hole 25 in the valve-actuating rod l6, longitudinal movement of the rod l6 and sleeve 20 being provided for by a diametral slot 26 in the nozzle l0 and the internal. guide Il associated therewith. Preferably this slot 26 extends through the integral webs l9, so that it has no communication with the liquid passage or passages I8 in the nozzle l0.

Normally the lower end of the main valve l5 makes liquid-tight contact with an annular seating 21 which surrounds the upper end or ends of the passage or passages H3 in the nozzle l0, and this seating 21, which is preferably faced with a washer 28 of cork or other relatively soft material, may be constituted by a shoulder within the valve casing 5 itself or by the upper face of the nozzle lllwhen the latter is formed separately from the casing 5.

The seating 21 is located below the level of the delivery ports 8 in the valve casing 5, andwhen the main valve I5 is in its normal position the upper end thereof may be substantially flush with the lower edges of the inlet ports 6, as shown in Figure 2.

The inlet and discharge ports 6, 8 are prefer-,

ably arranged so that the rising valve I5 closes the inlet ports 6 before it commences to open the discharge ports 8, such an arrangement of the ports 6, 3 in relation to the normal or lowest position of the valve l5 forming the subject of British Patent No. 476,76'1.

A short length of glass tube 29 which surrounds the valve casing 55 is supported on the flange l at the lower end of the latter and is clamped between the fiange i and a cover member 39 which is connected thereto in any suitable manner, the annular space 3! between the glass tube 253 and the casing 5 constituting the measuring chamber of the tap. H

Preferably the upper end of the valve casing 5 fits into a central opening 32 in the cover member 38 and has secured thereto a hollow neck 33 which projects externally of the cover member 39, the projecting portion of the neck 33 being screw-- threaded. for engagement with an annular cap 34 which may be formed or provided with a tapered hollow spigot 35 adapted to enter the neck of an inverted bottle. Alternatively, the neck of the bottle may fit into a neck on the cover member 38 as described in the specification of the British patent aforesaid.

A coil spring 36 may be compressed between a shoulder 31 in the neck 33 and the top of the main valve H5.

The cover member 35 may be provided with trunnions 38 or other means whereby it may be attached, pivotally or otherwise, to a suitable support.

A suitable seating 39 for engagement by the upper end of the main valve 15, when the latter is fully raised, is provided at the top of the valve casing 5 above the level of the inlet ports 6, and this seating may be constituted by the lower edge of the hollow neck 33 to which the valve casing 5 is secured.

This upper valve seating 39 may be faced. with a washer of cork or other relatively soft material similar to that associated with the lower seating 27.

' When the main valve I5 is in its lowest position, liquid can enter the measuring chamber 3| through one of the inlet ports 6 whilst displaced air passes upwardly into the bottle through the other of such ports.

Once the chamber 3! is full, the main valve l5 may be raised in the manner already described, so that the inlet ports 6 are closed and the outlet ports 8 opened so that liquid can escape into the nozzle H3.

The main valve 55 may be provided with a lateral projection fill which extends through a longitudinal slot ll in the valve casing, and this projection 3% may be arranged to open an air vent or shifting valve 32 in the cover member 30 just before the main valve i5 reaches the top of its stroke. 1

The projection it aforesaid may comprise a conical-headed screw whose stem passes inwardly through the slot 51 into engagement with the body of the main valve i5.

The sniftingvalve 42 may have a flat face which engages a seating 43 at the base of a ported socket M in the cover member 30 of the tap, a fluted shank G5 on the valve 52 passing through a hole at in the base of the socket M and projecting inwardly of the measuring chamber SE for engagement by the above-mentioned projection =98. The valve 42 may be pressed against its seat lS'by means of a compression spring 4 retained by a screwed plug E8 or cap which closes the mouth of the socket 44.

The upper end of the giL'de It for the actuating member iii of the main valve i5 projects upwardly into the interior of the valve casing 5, and the main valve I5 has an axial bore 69 which accommodates this projecting portion of the guide ll. Considerable clearance is provided between the guide H and the interior of the bore 49, especially at the lower part of the latter, so that there shall be no risk of liquid passing upwardly between the surfaces of the members l5, H due to capillary attraction. Furthermore this clearance ensures that the accurate seating of the main valve 15, when in its lowest position, shall not be interfered with by the guide l'l.

Preferably the upper end of the valve-actuating rod H5 is not attached to the main valve IE but merely abuts the inner end of the bore t9 therein when pushed upwardly. In the lowest position of both members a certain clearance is provided between the end of the rod !6 and the coacting face 58 of the valve 15, which ensures that the actuating means shall not prevent the valve it from making liquid tight contact with its lower seating 21.

The guide I? for the valve-actuating member it may be closed at its lower end, but it is preferred to extend the member it downwardly through the end of the guide IT, as at 5|, and to mount on this extension 5! an anti-drip valve 52 such as forms the subject of my co-pending application Serial No. 302,921 this anti-drip valve 52 co-operating with a seating 53in the lower part E2 of the nozzle ill.

In this case, the downward extension 5| of the valve-actuating member it may be of reduced diameter and a flat-faced or conical shoulder 54 may be provided at its junction with the body of the member l6 for co-operation with a seating 55 at the lower end of the guide H.

This valve face or shoulder 54 may be pressed towards its seating 55 by means of av spring, which may be a compression spring embracing the upper part of the valve-actuating member 16 and interposed between a second shoulder 56 on the latter and a gland nut 57 which screws into the upper end of the guide ii.

The above arrangement prevents liquid in the tap nozzle Ill from creeping up the extension 5| of the valve-actuating member IS and issuing through the longitudinal slot 26 in the nozzle part II.

t will be appreciated that when the valve actuating member l6 has been pushed upwards, the extension 5| thereof carrying the anti-drip valve 52 is moved upwardly into the guide I! and is thus not exposed to the liquid passing through the nozzle is.

What I claim then is:

1. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, an actuating member for said main valve disposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod interposed between said actuating memberand said main valve, and a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod.

2. A measuring tapadapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, a delivery nozzle below said valve casing, a sleeve slidably mounted on the exterior of said delivery nozzle and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving. vessel, a push-rod connected to said sleeve and adapted to transmit upward pressure thereon to said main valve, and a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod.

3. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said-measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, a delivery nozzle below said valve casing, a sleeve slidably mounted on the exterior of said delivery nozzle and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod adapted to transmit upward pressure thereon to said valve, a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod and a cross-pin associated with said sleeve, said pin engaging the lower end of said push-rod and passing through a longitudinal slot in said guide.

4. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, a delivery nozzle below said valve casing, a sleeve slidably mounted on the exterior of said delivery nozzle and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel and a push-rod connected to said sleeve and adapted to transmit upward pressure thereon to said main valve, said delivery nozzle being formed with an integral guide enclosingsaid push-rod and with a liquid passage extending alongside said guide.

5. A measuring'tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, a tubular delivery nozzle below said valve casing, a sleeve slidably mounted on the exterior of said delivery nozzle and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod connected to said sleeve and adapted to transmit upward pressure thereon to said main valve, and a guide for said push-rod disposed coaxially of said nozzle and connected thereto by integral webs separating liquid passages. c

5 6. A measuring tap'adapted to be connected to an-inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, a tubular delivery nozzle below said valve casing, a sleeve slidably mounted on the exterior of said delivery nozzle and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod adapted to transmit upward pressure thereon tosaid valve, a guide enclosing said push-rod and vdisposed coaxial with said nozzle, diametrically opposed webs integrally connecting said nozzle to said guide, and a crosspin associated with said sleeve, said pin engaging the lower end of said push-rod and passing through slots formed in said nozzle longitudinally of said webs so as not to communicate with the liquid passages separated by the latter.

'7. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, an actuating member for said main valve disposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod interposed between said actuating member and said main valve, said main valve and push-rod having their coacting faces spaced apart when in their lowest positions, and a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod;

8. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, an actuating member for said main valvedisposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod connected to said actuating member and adapted toabut the inner end of an axial bore in said main valve, said main valve and push-rod having their coacting faces spaced apart when in their lowest positions, and a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod.

9. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, an actuating member for said main valve disposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for enclosing said push-rod, the upper end of said guide extending into said bore and being spaced from the walls thereof.

10. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve being spring-loaded to a position in which it closes said discharge ports, and being adapted on upward movement against said spring to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, an actuating member for said main valve disposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod interposed between said actuating member and said main valve, and a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod.

11. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudi nally thereof, a main valve slidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, an actuating member for said main valve disposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod interposed between said actuating member and said main valve, a valve face on said push-rod, a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod, and a seating at the lower end of said guide adapted for engagement by said valve face when said push-rod is in its lowest position.

12. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided casing, a snifting valve associated with said measuring chamber and adapted to be opened on engagement by said projection as said main valve approaches the top of its stroke, an actuating member for said main valve disposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod interposed between said actuating member and said main valve, and a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod.

13. A measuring tap adapted to be connected to an inverted container, comprising a measuring chamber, a tubular valve casing extending through said measuring chamber and provided with inlet and discharge ports spaced longitudinally thereof, a main valve s'lidable in said valve casing, said main valve normally closing said discharge ports and being adapted on upward movement to open said discharge ports and to close said inlet ports, a lateral projection on said main valve passing through a slot in said valve casing, a spring-loaded shifting valve normally sealing a vent opening in said measuring chamber, a fluted shank on said snifting valve guided in said vent opening and adapted to be engaged by said projection, so as to open said snifting valve, when said main valve approaches the top of its stroke, an actuating member for said main valve disposed clear of the path of liquid delivered from the tap and adapted for upward displacement by a receiving vessel, a push-rod interposed between said actuating memher and said main valve, and a fixed guide enclosing said push-rod.

JOHN SINCLAIR WEIGHTMAN. 

